There was once a rich man, who had a servant who served him diligently and honestly. He was every morning the first out of bed, and the last to go to rest at night, and whenever there was a difficult job to be done, which nobody cared to undertake, he was always the first to set himself to it. Moreover, he never complained, but was contented with everything and always merry.
When a year was ended, his master gave him no wages, for he said to himself, that is the cleverest way, for I shall save something and he will not go away, but stay quietly in my service. The servant said nothing, but did his work the second year as he had done it the first, and when at the end of this, likewise, he received no wages, he submitted and still stayed on.
When the third year also was past, the master considered, put his hand in his pocket, but pulled nothing out. Then at last the servant said, master, for three years I have served you honestly, be so good as to give me what I ought to have, for I wish to leave, and look about me a little more in the world.
Yes, my good fellow, answered the old miser, you have served me industriously, and therefore you shall be graciously rewarded.
And he put his hand into his pocket, but counted out only three farthings, saying, there, you have a farthing for each year, that is large and liberal pay, such as you would have received from few masters.
The honest servant, who understood little about money, put his fortune into his pocket, and thought, ah, now that I have my purse full, why need I trouble and plague myself any longer with hard work. So on he went, up hill and down dale, and sang and jumped to his heart's content. Now it came to pass that as he was going by a thicket a little man stepped out, and called to him, whither away, merry brother. I see you do not carry many cares. Why should I be sad, answered the servant, I have enough.
Three years, wages are jingling in my pocket.
How much is your treasure, the dwarf asked him. How much. Three farthings sterling, all told. Look here, said the dwarf, I am a poor needy man, give me your three farthings, I can work no longer but you are young, and can easily earn your bread.
And as the servant had a good heart, and felt pity for the little man, he gave him the three farthings, saying, take them in the name of heaven, I shall not be any the worse for it.
Then the little man said, as I see you have a good heart I grant you three wishes, one for each farthing, they shall all be fulfilled. Aha, said the servant, you are one of those who can work wonders. Well, then, if it is to be so, I wish, first, for a gun, which shall hit everything that I aim at, secondly, for a fiddle, which when I play on it, shall compel all who hear it to dance, thirdly, that if I ask a favor of any one he shall not be able to refuse it.
All that shall you have, said the dwarf, and put his hand into the bush, and just imagine, there lay a fiddle and gun, all ready, just as if they had been ordered. These he gave to the servant, and then said to him, whatever you may ask at any time, no man in the world shall be able to deny you.
Heart alive. What more can one desire, said the servant, to himself, and went merrily onwards. Soon afterwards he met a Jew with a long goat's beard, who was standing listening to the song of a bird which was sitting up at the top of a tree. Good heavens, he was exclaiming, that such a small creature should have such a fearfully loud voice. If it were but mine. If only someone would sprinkle some salt upon its tail. If that is all, said the servant, the bird shall soon be down here. And taking aim he blew, and down fell the bird into the thorn-bushes. Go, you rogue, he said to the Jew, and fetch the bird out for yourself.
Oh, said the Jew, leave out the rogue, my master, and I will do it at once. I will get the bird out for myself, now that you have hit it. Then he lay down on the ground, and began to crawl into the thicket.
When he was fast among the thorns, the good servant's humor so tempted him that he took up his fiddle and began to play. In a moment the Jew's legs began to move, and to jump into the air, and the more the servant fiddled the better went the dance. But the thorns tore his shabby coat from him, combed his beard, and pricked and plucked him all over the body. Oh, dear, cried the Jew, what do I want with your fiddling. Leave the fiddle alone master, I do not want to dance.
But the servant did not listen to him, and thought, you have fleeced people often enough, now the thorn-bushes shall do the same to you. And he began to play over again, so that the Jew had to jump higher than ever, and scraps of his coat were left hanging on the thorns. Oh, woe's me, cried the Jew, I will give the gentleman whatsoever he asks if only he leaves off fiddling, a whole purseful of gold. If you are so liberal, said the servant, I will stop my music, but this I must say to your credit, that you dance to it so well that one must really admire it. And having taken the purse he went his way.
The Jew stood still and watched the servant quietly until he was far off and out of sight, and then he screamed out with all his might, you miserable musician, you beer-house fiddler. Wait till I catch you alone, I will hunt you till the soles of your shoes fall off. You ragamuffin, just put six farthings in your mouth, that you may be worth three halfpence. And went on abusing him as fast as he could speak. As soon as he had refreshed himself a little in this way, and got his breath again, he ran into the town to the justice.
My lord judge, he said, I have come to make a complaint, see how a rascal has robbed and ill-treated me on the public highway. Astone on the ground might pity me, my clothes all torn, my body pricked and scratched, my little all gone with my purse - good ducats, each piece better than the last, for God's sake let the man be thrown into prison.
Was it a soldier, said the judge, who cut you thus with his sabre. Nothing of the sort, said the Jew, it was no sword that he had, but a gun hanging at his back, and a fiddle at his neck, the wretch may easily be recognized.